Freshman Republican congressman, Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, is facing backlash following a profanity-laden outburst directed at a group of Senate pages. The incident occurred in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday night when Van Orden encountered the 16- and 17-year-old pages who assist with Senate operations, as reported by The Hill. The pages often rest in the rotunda when Senate sessions run late. According to a transcript written by one of the pages immediately after the incident, which was shared with The Hill, Van Orden shouted at the teens, using profanities in nearly every sentence, to “wake … up” and “get … out of here.”
The Hill reported that Van Orden’s remarks included a total of eight curse words. In addition to the profanities, he referred to the group with derogatory terms and claimed they were “defiling the space.” When questioned about the tirade, Van Orden did not deny it and instead justified his behavior by emphasizing the historical significance of the Capitol Rotunda. He mentioned its use as a field hospital during the Civil War and the deaths of Union soldiers who fought to end slavery. He argued that such a place should be treated with utmost respect. However, it should be noted that no soldiers are buried under the Capitol building.
Van Orden further expressed his dissatisfaction to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, stating that the Capitol should not be treated like a fraternity house. Other lawmakers responded with outrage. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, speaking on the Senate floor, expressed shock at the incident and criticized Van Orden’s refusal to apologize to the young pages. Schumer conveyed his belief that no one in the Senate shared such disrespect, a sentiment echoed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who stated that “everybody on this side of the aisle” felt the same way. Van Orden also faced criticism for attending the rally outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and for previously harassing another teenager over an LGBTQ+ book display in a library.
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